Going out of business. No toilet paper and a little girl not in school, but drawing at the kitchen table. A family torn apart like so many others during this current pandemic. Two friends watching a neighbor stock up on essentials, one worried that he no longer matters. He's getting older and the virus seems tailor made for people his age. Does anyone care? He seems to not think so and remarks to his friend that as they age, they become worth less and less. A sad statement that in this crisis I'm sure many may be mirroring. Finally, a reclusive man sitting in front of his screen, much like you are right now, wondering what the future holds... if anything.

But leave it to that little girl drawing at her kitchen table to remind her parents that there's always hope; to remind them that they are not alone, and are not the only ones scared. Her brother, worried his life is over even though he probably won't die from the virus. He's scared. He feels alone even though he is with his family. Even now, he must somewhere know he's one of the lucky ones, one of those that at least have people to be with. Some are not so lucky, how are they dealing? But that little girl, so innocent and barely able to grasp the fundamentals of life can and does help. Maybe it's that very innocence that makes her able to uplift first a family, and then a neighborhood. Although just an actor in a movie, maybe this little girl can spread the message even further; maybe you'll watch this title and feel inclined to share it. It's a message we should all receive; a message that can really help as we're all locked away in our homes. Some with family and others alone.

Not shying away from the most dreadful aspects of depression and loneliness, Jesse Edwards' short film shines a light on loneliness and depression. Distance is about the coronavirus but only as a jumping point to delve into other aspects such as the loss of jobs, quarantine, and being alone. This isn't a title about getting sick, it's a title about coping. And it never tries to answer anything, but only to give hope to people and maybe show us what we, as individuals and families, can do to help others. The simple things, such as messages and even hearing a familiar voice on the phone. These are the things that will hold so many people together through this crisis, and this is a short film you need to see.

Distance is a free to watch production hosted on YouTube. You can find the film right here. Since most of us are stuck at home anyway, why not put in the time? Even if you're one of those wonderful essential workers, Distance may help lift your spirits. Something desperately needed. We're all in this together, and this title reminds us of that. Highly recommended viewing, thumbs up.